About Our Childcare Service:

Ballincollig Family Resource Centre provides a Childcare service that is  child led, community based and affordable. Our Childcare team are committed to building a strong relationship with the children, parents and guardians participating in our service.

Our Childcare team are highly qualified childcare practitioners with a number of the team being qualified LINC Co-ordinators(access and inclusion module). Our practice is guided and supported by Aistear (2009) The Early Childhood Curriculum Framework and Siolta (2006) The National Quality Framework for Early Childhood Education and the National Preschool Standards.

 

Ethos of our childcare service

  • A high-quality service centred around the child’s emerging interests
  • Strong partnership with parents and families
  • Supporting children with additional needs
  • Supporting each individual child
  • Maintaining the practitioner/child relationship during closure
  • Play based curriculum developed in line with Aistear
  • Multiagency team working – Family Support Workers, Public Health Nurse, Link Worker etc.
Opening Hours

ECCE:
Monday – Friday

Morning:8:45am – 11:45pm
Afternoon: 12:15 – 3:15pm.

 

NCS:

Morning:8:45am – 11:45pm
Afternoon: 12:15 – 3:15pm.

Apply Online
Childcare Application Form

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Our Childcare Facilities and Services
  • 84 Free ECCE Preschool Places. (morning & afternoon sessions)
  • 20 NCS places (morning & afternoon sessions)
  • Parent and Toddler.
  • Activity Club.
  • Healthy and nutritious snacks provided for all children.
  • Secure external play area.
  • Professional qualified staff team.
  • Camps
  • Registered and Regulated by Pobal, Tusla Child and Family Agency and the Health Service Executive.
Child Safeguarding :

It is the policy of Ballincollig Family Resource Centre Childcare Service to safeguard children by protection them from harm. At all times best practice is adhered to by our staff team. A detailed Child Safeguarding  Policy of the Ballincollig FRC is available on request.

Admissions/Registration of new children:

It is our intention to make our childcare service  accessible to children and families from all sections of the local Ballincollig community and surrounding areas. In order to accomplish this, we will:

  • Make our services accessible to all within our remit and the boundaries of our resources while ensuring the Health and Safety of the staff and the children who attend here and that we are adhering to current regulations set down by regulatory bodies.
  • Ensure that our service is in a position to support the needs of the child adequately within the resources of the Pre-School.
  • Prioritise those who live in Ballincollig and surrounding areas within the limits of the Pre-School resources.
  • Arrange our waiting list in order of date of receipt of application. However, the offer of a place will be based on a number of criteria in order to provide the best possible service to all children attending the Pre-School. These include eligibility, availability of places, resources and adhering to current regulations. This list is not exhaustive.
  • Fill available places with those children who are eligible for a September start first. Therefore, we are not able to guarantee a place, either in September or at any other stage during the year.
  • Prioritise those children who will attend for the full five days a week and will offer out part time places only if we can fill the remaining days with a suitable child.
  • Endeavour to support the Early Intervention Services if we can meet the needs of the child.

This is dependent on our Childcare services having space in the service to offer a place. Enrolment of a child into the Pre-School/NCS is dependent on parents/guardians attending the induction Meeting/Meeting with Childcare Services Manager, signing up and adhering to Ballincollig Early Years Pre-School Policies and Procedures

Contact our Childcare Manager  Lorraine Fitzgerald on 021-4876295 or childcaremanager@ballincolligfrc.org to enquire about our childcare services.

Aistear – Early Years Curriculum Framework
  • Learning experiences are planned through the children’s emerging interests linked to Aistear
  • These are documented through observations of each child by the childcare team
  • Children’s learning is shared with parents and guardians through Child paths
  • The staff also document the learning for the group as whole
  • Reflective practice is used by all staff in order to provide the best outcome for children
NCS- National Childcare Service
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Free ECCE Preschool Places:
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Parent and Toddler Group
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Testimonials

“

Our son became braver, has learnt more how to co-operate in a group with lots of kids. He has got a great lesson at art, sport, science. The pre-school was the best preparation for big school. I could not imagine a more wonderful pre-school, teachers and management for our son. Thank you so so much.

“

Our daughter had basic speech, lacked confidence and due to her hypermobility was afraid of taking any risks when it came to gross motor activities. After two years with Early Years, she has become a big independent thinker, has a massive vocabulary and is able to assess risk when climbing, running etc. Your pre-school has helped nurture those skills.

“

Positive impact, confident and more independent. Fantastic attentive staff.

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My child got confidence, independence and skills to socialise and negotiate. I am very happy that both of my children attended pre-school here and the service we received.